Judge seals transcripts of Mazzaglia statements

DOVER — A judge has granted a motion to seal transcripts that will be reviewed during an upcoming suppression hearing in Seth Mazzaglia's murder trial.

Judge Kenneth Brown granted the motion made by public defenders, Joachim Barth and Melissa Davis, after reviewing their arguments.

Barth and Davis contend that Mazzaglia, 31, of Dover, made involuntary statements during a custodial interrogation by officers from New Hampshire State Police and the Dover Police Department on Oct. 12 and 13, 2012. He was not advised of his Miranda rights, the right to remain silent, during an 11-hour interrogation that ended at 3:21 a.m. Oct. 13, something Mazzaglia's attorneys argued is a violation of the New Hampshire and United States constitutions.

The merits of their arguments will be reviewed during the suppression hearing scheduled for Feb. 11-13.

In the meantime, audio and video of the interrogations, performed by four state police officers and a Dover detective at various locations, including Newington police station and Peirce Island in Portsmouth, will remain under seal at Strafford County Superior Court.

University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott, 19, was killed on Oct. 9, 2012. Her body was reportedly dumped at Peirce Island in Portsmouth and has never been found. Mazzaglia originally tried to accuse witness Paul Hicock, but eventually told police Marriott died accidentally during a consensual sexual encounter.

For the crime, Mazzaglia faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit tampering with witnesses and informants, conspiracy to commit falsifying physical evidence and criminal solicitation. His trial is scheduled for May.